Schmear
/ʃmɪər/noun
A spread or generous amount, especially of cream cheese, or the act of spreading something.
Did you know?In American English, schmear expanded from a Yiddish verb meaning “to smear” into a noun for a generous spread, especially cream cheese.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*smerwjaną
“To smear or spread with a greasy substance”
Old High German
OHG
smerwen
“To smear or anoint with grease”
Middle High German
MHG
smerwen
“To smear, grease, or spread”
Modern German
German
schmieren
“To smear, spread, or grease”
18th–19th Century
Yiddish
shmirn / שמירן
“To smear or spread; related culinary uses developed in Yiddish-speaking communities”
20th Century
American English
schmear
“A spread or generous portion, especially cream cheese”